Legionella (the cause of legionnaires disease) is a type of bacteria found in fresh water environments. Once legionella finds its way into an enclosed environment, such as a building's cooling tower system, it can quickly multiply and spread throughout the building's water system. Contaminated water droplets that are dispersed into the air and inhaled can lead to the development of legionnaires disease.
Legionnaires (lee-juh-nares) disease is a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by legionella bacteria. Signs and symptoms of legionnaires disease can include shortness of breath, cough, headaches, muscle aches and fever (also referred to as pontiac fever). The good news is that legionnaires disease can be treated with antibiotics. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, hospitalization may be required to treat the disease and bacteria.
Self diagnosing can be difficult, as the symptoms can easily be mistaken for an acute fever. Certain individuals are more at risk than others to catching legionnaires disease, these individuals include those:
Legionella can grow in any section of the building's water system, such as; storage tanks, cooling towers, water heaters, water filtration systems, aerators, faucets, showerheads, ice machines, hot tubs and more... These devices can easily spread contaminated water droplets throughout your facility. Showerheads, water fountains and cooling towers are great examples of how the bacteria can be aeresolized by a water system. A contaminated cooling tower can easily spread the Legionella bacteria to nearby cooling towers; the amount of mist generated by cooling towers along with heavy winds can easily enable the bacteria to travel.
A large outbreak in 2015 affected more than 120 people in the South Bronx of New York, 12 of whom died. Health officials ordered the disinfection of cooling towers, as a nearby hotel's cooling tower was implicated in the outbreak. The water systems listed above can become incubators, feeding the growth and spread of the bacteria. Below are four common building factors that can lead to the growth and spread of legionella:
The potential for an outbreak makes it important that we take precautions in ensuring our water treatment systems are bacteria free.
​Unfortunately there are no vaccines that can help prevent legionnaires disease. The key preventative measure is making sure that the building's water system is well maintained and routinely tested for legionella and other bacteria.
​ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems
On June 26th, 2015 an ASHRAE 188-2015 standard was created providing details and guidance on preventing and minimizing the risk of Legionella bacteria growth in water systems. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, and is being enforced by agencies that are directly involved with assuring the safety of building occupants. Please note that the ASHRAE standard has recently been updated to 188-2018. The standard itself hasn't change drastically, although the wording has, making it critical for building occupants to comply.
Unfortunately the standard does not provide a large amount of guidance when it comes to strategies and testing limits on how to minimize the risk of Legionella bacteria. The standard instead focuses on the creation and implementation of a documented risk management process.
Who Does The ASHRAE Standard Apply To?
The standard applies to any human-occupied building. It is intended for those who maintain, operate, design, build and/or manage building water systems (recreational, potable and non-potable). These buildings include but are not limited to the following:
Please note that the standard does not apply to single-family or small multiple-family residences (i.e. duplexes).
Risk Management Process: Creating A Water Management Program
ASHRAE 188 calls for a water management program to be developed within every organization that falls within the scope of the standard. Below is a brief explanation of the minimal steps required to create a water management program:
Please note that once the water management program is created it needs to be reviewed on a regular basis. Business demands may shift, causing a change in water requirements and a review of the program. Other factors, such as nearby construction projects and contaminated cooling towers, may require regular adjustments to your water management program.
*This is solely an overview of the standard, please ensure you read the full standard before proceeding with your legionella risk management program.
